Nursing is my oyster...now where to live

texascowgirl · May 23, 2006

TEXAS HANDS DOWN!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Good salaries, lots of opportunity, no state income tax, friendly folks, cheap real estate and land, and good lookin cowboys!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! cant wait to get back!

It has been said many times on these boards that nursing is a whole world of opportunity. As someone who will be graduating soon I am begining to look at various opportunities. Perhaps some of the experienced nurses or even travel nurses would like to share where they think some of the best places to train, work, and live are.
Thanks.

tvccrn, ASN, RN · May 23, 2006

TEXAS HANDS DOWN!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Good salaries, lots of opportunity, no state income tax, friendly folks, cheap real estate and land, and good lookin cowboys!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! cant wait to get back!

Preface with, I'm from Texas and now live in Wisconsin. All of the above plus terrible heat, horrid humidity and the fact that W calls it home.

I now call Wisconsin home. I love the seasons, the people are wonderful and the scenery is just like where I came from in Texas.

HARRN2b · May 23, 2006

What about California? I will be thinking that because of the mandatory ratio's. Concerns me though with cost of living, and that I do not speak any spanish.

jannrn · May 23, 2006

I recently moved to CA and do like the mandatory ratios, we even have to have someone come in for an hour on nights to cover our breaks (only 2 nurses usually as this is a small hosp.) if we have over 5 pt on the unit. the pay is a nice jump from where I was, but so is cost of living. Where I am it is worth it, nice weather, never too hot or too cold! You'll find lots of jobs in CA (probably everywhere for that matter) I just looked at the job openings for the hosp system I was at before (Oregon) and there were lots of openings. I think you could live anywhere you want and find something! As for Spanish, it would be equally as useful in CA as in OR, it is a nice asset to have (and one I need to work on).

Antikigirl, ASN, RN · May 23, 2006

I am actually looking into doing a few travel assignments in California right now. My mother lives in Cali so I don't have to pay for all my living expenses (she volunteered so she could see me for a month!)...and I can make some great money (they are paid higher than in Oregon).

But to tell you the way I look at it...Nursing is everywhere, so pick a living area that YOU wish to live in! I live in a gorgeous rural area still only 15 miles from the closest hospital, and several elderly facilities! Sure, I could have picked living in the closer areas for the main hub for working (IE near Portland which is a pain of a drive with traffic at any time for me!)...but I knew I would need to settle down after work in a place that was comforting to me! Home is my santuary, work is my job...and never the two shall mix as long as I can help it! Have a lovely space for yourself...after a hard day you will appreciate this advice!

Good luck! :)

tampabaylpn2rn · May 23, 2006

i used to live in oklahoma and i live in the tampa bay, florida area and i am so happy to live here! i make great money, i pay cheap rent and it's beautiful....and i don't even like the beach at all!

Multicollinearity, BSN, RN · May 23, 2006

Preface with, I'm from Texas and now live in Wisconsin. All of the above plus terrible heat, horrid humidity and the fact that W calls it home.

:rotfl:

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · May 24, 2006

After spending a lifetime in California, I moved to Texas 7 months ago and have found that it is a good place to live. The nursing salaries are good and the real estate is affordable. Many middle class professionals cannot ever afford homeownership in California, no matter how much they desire it.

AngelicLady · May 24, 2006

I'm not a nurse yet, so I can't post about working conditions for nurses here in Tampa. I would advise you not to move to Florida. At least not to the Tampa area. The cost of living has increased dramatically here over the past few years. They are plowing down trees and forest left and right to make ugly subdivisions filled with basically the same house with a tiny yard over and over. Oh, also drugstores, Walmarts, convenience store/gas stations and supermarkets. Those are also popping up in abundance. It's not a pretty sight when there's a super Walmart on almost every corner. Ugh.

I was born and raised here, but I can't wait to get out. I like to see some nature around me. I'm moving to Tennessee after I get my nursing degree. It's gorgeous and lush with just enough city to balance it out.

anne74 · May 24, 2006

I just moved to Colorado and I love it! It has the most perfect weather (sunny all the time), and so much to do outdoors and indoors. The people here are very laid back and friendly, and many moved here from other areas of the country so they're open to welcoming new friends. Pay here for nurses is average - at least for new grads. None of those fancy $5,000 signing bonuses. (But they really don't have to offer bonuses because so many people want to move here.) But, it's definitely liveable. I make it work. Cost of living here isn't too bad. Lots of great hospitals too, many of which are regional centers that serve the sickest of surrounding western states. You can nurse anywhere, so you have the luxury of choosing where you want to live. Go for the place that fits your lifestyle.

NRSNFL · May 24, 2006

I'm not a nurse yet, so I can't post about working conditions for nurses here in Tampa. I would advise you not to move to Florida. At least not to the Tampa area. The cost of living has increased dramatically here over the past few years. They are plowing down trees and forest left and right to make ugly subdivisions filled with basically the same house with a tiny yard over and over. Oh, also drugstores, Walmarts, convenience store/gas stations and supermarkets. Those are also popping up in abundance. It's not a pretty sight when there's a super Walmart on almost every corner. Ugh.
I was born and raised here, but I can't wait to get out. I like to see some nature around me. I'm moving to Tennessee after I get my nursing degree. It's gorgeous and lush with just enough city to balance it out.

I'd say avoid Tampa Bay all together. I agree, I came from NH/MA area and it was sooo expensive, but in the last 2 years the cost of owning your own home down here is ridiculous, and yes, the beauty of what it was is slipping away. Plus, even if you rent, most apartment complexes have gone condo, so those that are still apartments have gone up by at least 200/mo over the past year alone. Currently I commute an hour (for 40 miles) to get to the hospital I work at, if i were not a pre-nursing student waiting to get in for this fall (fingers crossed), I would not be working at this hospital. But it hopefully will lead to great opportunities.